May 12th, 2019 | The 23rd Times

Mother of God

By Fr. William Saunders – Catholic Exchange

Mary is truly a “mother”. Not just the physical means by which our Lord entered this world, but she is also in the fullest sense mother. As mother, she always wants to present her Son to others, and to lead others to her divine Son. In the Gospels, she presented Him to the shepherds, the Magi, the Priest Simeon and Anna, and to the wedding party at Cana. She desires to do the same for each of us. When our Lord died on the Cross, standing there were His mother, Mary, and St. John the Apostle; Jesus said to Mary, “Woman, there is your son,” entrusting His widowed mother to the care of St. John; and to St. John, “There is your mother” (Jn 19:26-27). Traditionally, we have always held that here Jesus gave Mary as a mother to the Church as a whole and to each of us.

Over the last 200 years, the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared to many different people all throughout the world. By her presence in our world, the messages she gave, will be one way in which she will convert sinners.

As we learn the messages she spoke, they challenge us to reflect on how we live our life and consider how God might be inviting us to greater conversion of life. Mary’s presence, her concern for all God’s children, is one way by which she will convert sinners.

By Her Prayers

The first way Mary converts sinners is through her prayers. In a different apparition received by a Belgian immigrant in the United States back in 1859, the Blessed Mother told the seer, Adele Brise, “I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners.” Assumed body and soul into Heaven, Mary now intercedes for the world.

As the Queen Mother, she advocates for the world before the throne of her son. Isn’t it the case that the hearts of some hardened sinners have been converted and conquered by the Blessed Virgin’s love?

Mary is praying for the conversion of sinners. She’s praying for you and me. And by her prayers, she will obtain the grace of conversion from her Son, and convert sinners.

By Her Example

We meet the Blessed Virgin in the pages of the gospel. The way by which she lived her life offers us a great example.

When we are confronted with vices, we look at Mary’s virtues. When are we tempted towards pride, we remember her humility before God. When we want to be disobedient, we recall her obedience to God’s will. When impurity and unchastity confronts us, her example of purity and chastity inspires us to live similarly. When we wish to ignore the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, her attentiveness and generosity towards Elizabeth beckons us to respond to their needs.

Let us look to our Blessed Mother’s example and rely on her prayers. May we turn to her always as our own Mother, pleading, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”